Family's Farewells

It's been a year since that day I explored my first dungeon.

Ever since then, I kept my training regimen with everyone.

Unfortunately I haven't improved a lot in a year, as I'm still stuck on the first magic tier, my physical condition and dexterity has gotten better, which I'm really proud of.

"Magnus, here" I hand Magnus a sack full of looted items.

At least once every two or three weeks I go exploring low level dungeons. There I loot everything I can, hand it over to members of the [Crescent Moon] so they can sell them sell them, as I don't leave this mountain.

It' a good system that let's me improve, it doesn't make me filthy rich, but it's nice to have this.

"Alen" I started to leave but Magnus stopped me. "Barret and I have to talk with you"

"Ye be already fifteen"

"And you can't live here forever"

"... what?"

"We know you don't want to leave... but"

"tis been like 9 years already... we be not thinkin' yer fo-"

"No... no, I... I get it"

"These last six years..." Karla and Khyle opened the door to Magnus' office "we've been asking and searching everywhere, but we couldn't find them"

"And we won't be here forever... kid, we care about you so... listen to what they have to say" Karla laid her hand on my shoulder.

"We want you to enter Aurum Academy"

That name!!

"I be mates with th' director. I asked her t' make ye a student there"

"She told us that, usually, they wouldn't admit you, as the inscription period to is already over"

"But because she owes a lot to Barret. She'll make an exception"

"You'll have to immediatelly take the same entrance exam like any other student though"

"Milly'll take you there right now"

"She'll give ye a tour and be off as soon as ye be startin' the exam"

"Wait. But what if I fail?" I can't focus on everything. All this information, this feelings, I need time to process it.

"You won't" they all had a serious expression, they knew what I was capable of better than anyone else.

"It's an academy city, so there're several markets to buy everything you may need, and also various places to live near the academy. You'll live there for the next three years of your education period"

"Every gold coin you made this year from your explorations will last you for at least... four or five months"

"Ye'll have t' earn yer own booty af'er that"

"Wait three years!?" Slow down please "And what about vacations, I can come back right"

"..."

"No Alen"

"We aren't seen as the most righteous of people"

"At least for these three years... pretend that you don't know us"

"What!!?"

"Kid, calm down" Karla grabbed both my shoulders "we kno-"

"No, I don't want to leave you" Alen's fears... my fears... at this rate they'll end up with the same fate... "What if it's not three years? What if something happens and I never get to see you again!?" I've gotta think of a way to avoid their deaths.

"That won't happen Alen" Magnus tried to calm me "We know this is asking a lot... but please, believe in us"

"We'll never abandon you Alen" Khyle tried to reassure me.

"We don't be wantin' ye makin' unnecessary foes 'cause o' us"

"This is the best thing for you kid"

"I... I..." I lower my head "I understand. I just... don't like it. To me, it doesn't matter if everyone else thinks you're bad guys, you're all my familly... and I don't want to lose another one"

In the future, we'll end up on fighting on different sides. And I want to save each and every single one of you.

Do I tell them to never join [Dark eclipse]? Or do I try to save them in the future? I have options to save them later. Do I tell them I'm not really tge Alen they know? But what would happen then? Do i... what do I do?

WhatdoIdo?WhatdoIdo?WhatdoIdo?

"You won't"

"We'll always be on your side, kid"

"We be willin' t' bend our code fer ye, matey"

!!!

"This family is way more important than anyone else. Who cares about honor and our word when one of us is in danger?"

"I kinda agree. But we're no cavmen, we'll still try to keep our word. We'll just... bend the rules for family's sake"

That... that's exactly what I need.

"Would you... be willing to do that... for me?"

"Not just for you kid" Karla stepped away "I'd give up everythin' to protect this group"

"The same goes for you Alen" Khyle leaned against a wall "If we're the ones in trouble, come and save us" he looked behind him. Even though there's a wall, I can feel that Milly's right behind it.

"Arrr, years o' upholdin' our code and we shatter it fer a scallywag that can scarce clear a dungeon!" Barret looked to the side.

"Hoho, I personally don't mind. After all, isn't this what you've always wanted Barret?" Magnus teased our captain. I didn't fully understand the meaning of those words. But they clearly worked, as Barret got all red and started arguing with Both Magnus and Karla.

In the end, seeing these group of mercenaries... no... my family. I agreed.

While I may not like separating from them and acting like I've never met them. I have to enter Aurum Academy to avoid an apocalypse that will fall on this world.

After saying goodbye to every member. I stepped outside, seeing that purple-haired member that prepared a small cart to carry my things.

One of the things I pride myself with, is the fact that I got really good at knowing what Milly was thinking about.

She clearly wasn't in my talk, as she definetely was against the idea of me leaving, given that she sees me as a younger brother.

_____________

Even with equs going on full throtle, it still took us three days.

From the mountain I'd been living on for the past year, we first moved north and entered a path called Frigid Peaks.

Aurum Academy is surrounded by the biggest mountain range in the whole continent. And the only way to enter are through the four paths built on the north, north-west and west.

The north and north-western path merge at some point leading to the red tower at the north-west. There're two paths on the west, they eventually merge leading to the green tower on the south-east

In these three days, Milly and I have been having short but pleasant conversations.

Maybe it's because she has only known an Alen that has never left home, so she taught me random bits of information about how to survive on a city. From scammers, to map usage, and even how a school works.

And on the morning of the third day, we finally arrived at the front gates of the academy.

Having seen the magestic pixel art of this place in the game. My expectations for this place were quite high.

They were all blown.

Aurum academy is the best academy in Terra (how earth was called in-game).

Situated on the south-eastern part of the Nhuam continent, Aurum academy is considered it's own country, even with it's big city size.

Neutral to every other nation and kingdom, parents from all over the world send their children to study here. No matter their social status as royalty, high or low ranking nobles, the common man or even those who have nothing to their name, everyone can be accepted if they pass the exams.

Aurum Academy is THE place you send your children if you want them to be kings, adventurers, judges, scholars or any other well respected job.

And, it's the main setting of the game [Dragon's Roar]

______________